Sorokin, Islanders Stun Leafs in 7-2 Rout

ELMONT, NY – Backed by Ilya Sorokin and his brilliance, the New York Islanders stunned the Toronto Maple Leafs 7-2 on Tuesday night.

With the win, the Islanders not only improved to 36-27-8, but now have a three-point gap between them and the current second wild-card holder, the Florida Panthers, who fell 6-3 to the Philadelphia Flyers Tuesday night.

The Panthers have played one fewer game.

LINES

Anders Lee-Bo Horvat-Simon Holmstrom
Pierre Engvall-Brock Nelson-Kyle Palmieri
Zach-Parise-Jean-Gabriel Pageau-Hudson Fasching
Matt Martin-Casey Cizikas-Cal Clutterbuck

Adam Pelech-Scott Mayfield
Alexander Romanov-Ryan Pulock
Samuel Bolduc-Noah Dobson

Ilya Sorokin
Semyon Varlamov

RAPID RECAP

The New York Islanders looked strong out of the gates but struggled at times in their own zone, given the Toronto Maple Leafs’ shiftiness and skill. Due to a failed clear attempt, the Leafs struck first with 8:59 to play in the first period as a Timothy Liljegren one-timer deflected off Scott Mayfield, then Sam Lafferty and in.

Ilya Sorokin kept the Islanders down just a goal as he stoned Erik Gustaffson with the paddle for his second paddle save of the season.

With 1:12 to go in the first, Brock Nelson was hit from behind by Leafs forward Noel Acciari and went straight to the dressing room. He did not return for the second period and missed the remainder of the game.

The Islanders, down a forward, tied the game just 28 seconds into the second as Zach Parise tapped home his 19th of the season during some four-on-four play following a strong feed from Scott Mayfield.

With the goal, Parise has scored in three straight games.

Hudson Fasching broke the deadlock as he sniped Leafs netminder Ilya Samsonov glove side for his seventh of the season after a Timothy Liljegren turnover with 6:10 to play in the second.

Cal Clutterbuck extended the Islanders lead to 3-1 with 2:34 to play in the second as he deflected a Ryan Pulock shot for his fifth of the season.

That goal marked his first since Jan. 5.

The Leafs got one back as Mitch Marner rifled home a one-timer from the high slot off a feed from Auston Matthews to cut the Islanders’ lead to 3-2 just 3:29 into the third.

However, the Islanders did not take long to answer as Clutterbuck scored his second of the game 44 seconds later as he sniped Samsonov off the rush for his sixth of the season.

At the 10-minute mark of the third, Simon Holmstrom stuffed home a loose puck for his fifth of the season, assisted by Anders Lee, as he snapped a nine-game goal drought.

Noah Dobson added an empty-netter for his 13th of the season, assisted by Jean-Gabriel Pageau, to give the Islanders a 6-2 lead. Dobson, like Holmstrom, snapped a nine-game goal drought.

With 3:14 to play in regulation, Lee defected a Dobson shot for his 27th of the season, to give the Islanders a 7-2 lead.

The Islanders held on to win 7-2, for their first win against the Maple Leafs on UBS Arena ice.

Sorokin stopped 23 of 25 shots in the win for his 26th victory of the season.

UP NEXT: The New York Islanders are in Columbus to face the Blue Jackets Friday night at 7 PM